I started nights only 2 months ago. So far its been working great. I'm getting along with my colleages, getting used to the new sleep schedule. I haven't been eating AT ALL other than a big dinner right before coming into work. It holds me up pretty well until about 3:30-4ish. I've been pretty good about not eating junk at night or buying fast food with the others. When I come home though, I'm wayyy too tired to eat so I just shower and sleep. I go to the gym on my off nights. I've always been pretty fit and I'm getting married in the next year, and really dont want to pack on the pounds before that.
Those of you who work nights, do you pack food with you? If so, what do you pack?
I'm in the exact same place as you! Ate a meal midday yesterday and that was it. I was fine. I normally am not hungry at night but last night around 3am my stomach was growling so I did have a small snack. Didn't want to eat when I got home this morning before sleeping. Now it is 3pm and I'm getting ready to eat my one meal. I won't be hungry after that but it probably isn't the best idea to go a another whole day with eating again. I suppose I need to force a snack later. I hate forced eating. But if I don't it leads to bad choices.
When I worked in the hospital and worked nights, I did bring food and tried to (but of course it didn't always happen depending on what was going on with my patients) eat dinner at 10pm, a snack at 2am-ish (yogurt or cottage cheese and fruit) and breakfast (cereal usually) at 6am before the dayshift came in. I barely made it home on public transportation without falling asleep so eating breakfast when I got home was a non-option.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
"I started nights only 2 months ago. So far its been working great. I'm getting along with my colleages, getting used to the new sleep schedule. I haven't been eating AT ALL other than a big dinner right before coming into work. It holds me up pretty well until about 3:30-4ish. I've been pretty good about not eating junk at night or buying fast food with the others. When I come home though, I'm wayyy too tired to eat so I just shower and sleep. I go to the gym on my off nights. I've always been pretty fit and I'm getting married in the next year, and really dont want to pack on the pounds before that.
Those of you who work nights, do you pack food with you? If so, what do you pack?"
I have tried to eat healthy on nocs... for the last 2 1/2 yrs. here's what I do:
I pack a meal to eat for lunch, consisting of no simple carbs. Typically 3-4oz lean protein, usually boneless skinless chicken, or ground lean turkey. But it might be tofu or beef, rarely.
Also a veggie, or 3. Lately, it's been kale and broccoli and carrots.
I like seasoning so it's usually chili garlic sauce or jalapeños and green onion, or Tajin.
For snacks: lean lunch meat chicken or turkey and/or carrots/a boiled egg.
I use a spread called bitchin sauce which is spicy made of nuts and chipotle.
I also snack on nuts: either sunflower seeds or walnuts.
I used to work night shift, and would meal prep to save time (and mindless snacking). Before work, I would make my superfood shake and drink it on the way. A couple of my meals included baked chicken with veggies and quinoa, chicken parmesan spaghetti squash, fish with rice and veggies, or a grilled chicken salad. My snacks normally included hard boiled eggs, a piece of fruit, or one cup of greek yogurt with fresh fruit and slivered almonds. Since I bought greek yogurt that was lower in sugar content, I'd add a little sweetener. You could also add some unsweet cocoa powder to the greek yogurt, peanut butter, etc. Another healthy snack is veggies or pita chips with hummus.
I started nights only 2 months ago. So far its been working great. I'm getting along with my colleages, getting used to the new sleep schedule. I haven't been eating AT ALL other than a big dinner right before coming into work. It holds me up pretty well until about 3:30-4ish. I've been pretty good about not eating junk at night or buying fast food with the others. When I come home though, I'm wayyy too tired to eat so I just shower and sleep. I go to the gym on my off nights. I've always been pretty fit and I'm getting married in the next year, and really dont want to pack on the pounds before that.
Those of you who work nights, do you pack food with you? If so, what do you pack?
Thanks!
When i was doing the night shift, i usually would have a heavy dinner and pack a few bars of snickers to keep me on the go. It's not healthy, i know but it was the one thing i could have with me at all times. My former unit still is the busiest at night.
I eat dinner at 1800 before work and a small meal around 0830 when I get home & then go to sleep around 1000. Seems to work for me. My weight hasn't really changed since I started working nights 5 years ago. I do bring some snacks in my bag (nuts, oatmeal packets, etc...; stuff that doesn't spoil and doesn't need refrigeration) in case I get hungry but I rarely eat them. My bigger problem is not remembering to drink enough water during my shift--being busy + "no drinks at the desk" + I'm always cold = not drinking as much as I should. By the end of 3 days I am dried out and headachy. Everyone's metabolism is different, though--I know some people swear by intermittent fasting (which is what I'm kinda doing, though not on purpose) and others swear by frequent small healthy meals. Just because it works for me doesn't mean it's "right" for you.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Hey fellow nurses,
I started nights only 2 months ago. So far its been working great. I'm getting along with my colleages, getting used to the new sleep schedule. I haven't been eating AT ALL other than a big dinner right before coming into work. It holds me up pretty well until about 3:30-4ish. I've been pretty good about not eating junk at night or buying fast food with the others. When I come home though, I'm wayyy too tired to eat so I just shower and sleep. I go to the gym on my off nights. I've always been pretty fit and I'm getting married in the next year, and really dont want to pack on the pounds before that.
Those of you who work nights, do you pack food with you? If so, what do you pack?
Thanks!
I've worked nights for a lot of years, and I loved the teamwork and the independence (from management, ancillary services, etc.) of night shift.
I usually ate dinner with my husband before leaving for work, and took along a "lunch" of leftovers. We usually planned our meals so that there would be leftovers for lunch for both of us. So I might have chili for dinner at home, and last night's left over meatloaf for "lunch" in the middle of the night. After work, I'd stop at Chik-Fil-A or MacDonald's to get a breakfast sandwich or pick up bagels at Panera, and we'd eat "breakfast" together before I went to bed. It worked well. I did gain weight, but I think that had more to do with a serious injury, cancer and a couple of knee replacements which adversely affected my mobility but didn't do any damage at all to my appetite. That and the fact that I'm 40 years older than I was when I started working nights.
ORoxyO
267 Posts
I'm in the exact same place as you! Ate a meal midday yesterday and that was it. I was fine. I normally am not hungry at night but last night around 3am my stomach was growling so I did have a small snack. Didn't want to eat when I got home this morning before sleeping. Now it is 3pm and I'm getting ready to eat my one meal. I won't be hungry after that but it probably isn't the best idea to go a another whole day with eating again. I suppose I need to force a snack later. I hate forced eating. But if I don't it leads to bad choices.